Effects of TNF‐Alpha Inhibitors on Circulating Th17 Cells in Patients Affected by Severe Psoriasis. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piaserico, Stefano; Sandini, Elena; Saldan, Alda; Abate, Davide
• Other Names: Gisondi Paolo guestEditor.; Murdaca Giuseppe guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Drug development research. Volume 75(2014)Supplement 1
• Page Start: S73
• Page End: S76
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: psoriasis -- tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors -- Th17 -- PASI; Drug development -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615.19
• DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-4391

Abstract

Abstract: Postmarketing Phase IV Psoriasis was previously considered to be mostly a Th1 cell‐related disorder, but Th17 cell has recently emerged as an important player in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The Th17 immune pathway is increased in psoriatic patients, both in peripheral circulation and in skin lesions, and positively correlates with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Anti‐tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) agents, in addition to potent inhibition of TNF‐α activity, are able to decrease IL‐17 levels and Th17 cells in the skin and plasma of patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. We found a decrease in the median Th17 cell count in peripheral blood after 4 months' therapy with anti‐TNF‐α compared with baseline values, but the difference did not reach statistical significance, probably due to the small cohort size. Our data suggest that anti‐TNF‐α treatment for psoriasis is able to achieve a substantial Th17 cell count reduction in the peripheral blood of patients and that this decrease is significantly associated with an adequate response to biologic therapy, as previous studies in rheumatoid arthritis have shown.